Botswana ends three-year junior chess hiatus

Calistus Kolantsho | Friday December 5, 2014 21:59

 

The Botswana Chess Federation (BCF) spokesperson, Keenese Katisenge told Mmegi Sport that they had previously failed to send a team to the competition due to financial constraints.

This year, Otsile Mapine will represent the country in the boys’ competition while Malebogo Sokisi will fight in the girls’ category.  Katisenge said the African Junior Chess Championships gives players from different continents an opportunity to gain ratings and titles.

She said the two Botswana players were selected based on their consistency, discipline and commitment to the game.  Katisenge said Mapine was part of the team that represented Botswana at the 2013 Commonwealth Chess Championships in South Africa.  He finished 11th during the 2014 Botswana International Open Chess Championships Prestige Section.

Katisenge said Mapine is one of the country’s leading Under-21 players after finishing in the top 10 overall in BCF tournaments this year.  Sokisi was a finalist in the 2014 Metropolitan National Chess Championships and was part of the team that won the Mater Spei College Open.   “She is a good player and she has had a brilliant run this year.

Last year, she was the junior schools girls champion. I believe we have sent strong players to the competition,” Katisenge said. BCF secretary general, Alex Mpusang, accompanied the players to Angola. The tournament began on Tuesday and ends Wednesday next week.  Results were not immediately available at press time due to what Katisenge said was poor communication with the hosts. 

By yesterday, two rounds had been played in the competition, which has attracted six countries. Besides hosts Angola, the other countries taking part are Botswana, Egypt, Malawi, Namibia and Uganda.  The last players to represent Botswana at the junior competition in 2010 are Kgalalelo Botlhole, Faith Mbakwa, Thabo Gumpo and David Mooketsi. Mooketsi was awarded a prize for the most outstanding games of the tournament while Botlhole was made a FIDE Master (FM).